Bob Thompson T hompson
HAVING FUN WITH WORK
O
BY WENDY M. DODD
ne thing leads to another…
Childhood Music Lessons Air Force Sergeant Europe Wife Photography Mentor Baby with Down Syndrome Anandi Speaking for United Way Giving Back creating Thompson Event Partners. Bob Thompson’s life seemed compartmentalized for years, but every compartment served a purpose in preparing him to fuse those talents and experiences to create a truly unique business; Thompson Event Partners. We often can’t understand why certain life experiences happen until years after the fact, and sometimes not even then. If we are able to look at our lives as a whole, it’s possible to see how each moment and experience has prepared us for the next, allowing each step we take to propel us toward living a life in which we can combine our passions, talents and resources. When we allow ourselves to combine our passions, talents and resources, we lead a life of fulfillment; one that is beneficial to others. And isn’t that what it’s all about? Just ask Bob Thompson. Thompson has spent nearly 25 years perfecting his craft on the photography scene since his first professional job in 1993. His images are a perfect reflection of Bob's true desire to connect with his clients on a personal level. His
IS
SERIOUS BUSINESS!
PHOTOS BY THOMPSON BRAND IMAGES & Mike Ossola Photography
calm, welcoming demeanor can coax smiles from even the toughest of photo subjects, even inspiring his subjects with a new-found relationship with their own selfimage. A long time member of the Rotary Club of New Tampa and the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce, Thompson's list of encouraging talents don't stop at photography. An Emcee for over 10 years for Rotary events, both locally and nationally, he is also a standout community leader often donating his time behind the podium, mic and guitar for numerous local organizations. Aside from his thriving events business, Bob is also a doting husband to Anandi and father to Buddy, their son. Bob's outgoing personality is ever present in his personal life as he has enjoyed spending his free time supporting Buddy Baseball, Special Olympics and Easter Seals with his family. Resident Magazine wanted to see just what drives Thompson's limitless enthusiasm. RM (Resident Magazine): Lets start with your personal life, your wife and son.
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BT (Bob Thompson): Anandi, my wife of 28 years, owns WEllcome Om Yoga Studio, and is a partner in this new events business where she’s positioning herself to develop and deliver yoga and wellness programs, as well as training and development programs for events and conferences. She actually changed her name to Anandi last year when she was initiated formally into the yoga lineage she’s been practicing for 26 years by Yogi Amrit Desai, who gave her the name. Our son, Eric, or Buddy, was born on August 22nd here in Tampa. We'd only been in Tampa four to five months, building our client base and expanding the company when he arrived four weeks early. The pregnancy had progressed without any problems, even being born a month early, he seemed to be doing great. The next day was when everything went downhill. Doctors informed us that Buddy might have Down syndrome and holes in his heart. Just days after we were home, he became severely jaundice and was readmitted to the ICU, a place we would frequent over the next 18 months. Until his heart
was fixed he needed full time oxygen, feeding tube, and fulltime monitoring for a malady of other health issues that can arise with Down syndrome. It was a tough go, but we created a good routine. I was working as a musician many nights until around 2 in the morning typically, and I would handle a photo session here and there so I took the night shift of medications and feedings. Anandi would head off to work during the day. It was very rough for a while. Once his heart was fixed, 17 months later, he improved considerably and kept improving from that day forward. Today he is lean and muscular; he never gets sick and you'd never know any of that happened by looking at him today. Now he's heading to college in the fall. Eric's Gift: A Book on the Discovery of Unconditional Love in the 47th Chromosome is a book that Anandi wrote about Buddy's journey with Down Syndrome when it appeared he wasn’t going to make it. Buddy ended up becoming a poster child for the United Way when he was about 4 years old. He was on billboards and posters all around the city, and United Way really stepped up and helped with a lot of the Continued on page 16
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